Alex Gersbach

If Socceroos fans breathed a sigh of relief at Gersbach's transfer, under the guise that one of Australia's most promising youngsters was surely going to get back to playing regular first-team football this season...well, don't hold your breath. 

The national left-back position now dominated by Aziz Behich (another footballer warming the reserves) once seemed Gersbach's to lose, with the 21-year-old quickly rising to prominence in Ange Postecoglou's Socceroos rejuvenation.

But Behich's superb form in the Turkish Super Lig coincided with Gersbach's unfortunate move to Norway's FK Rosenborg, leaving the left-back position a one-man race.

While the Norwegian giants seemed a relatively safe move for the Aussie after highly successful spells at Sydney FC and in France's Ligue 2 with RC Lens, Gersbach was unable to attain consistent game-time in the Eliteserien, falling foul to an unexpectedly tough defence, brimming with similarly talented, youthful Norwegian competition. 

Unfortunately Rosenborg's position as undisputed powerhouses, not just in Norway but in Scandinavia, in addition to the extremely inhospitable weather conditions, created a few too many obstacles for the young Aussie to overcome.

But while a transfer to NAC Breda in the Eredivisie appears a step-up, both in terms of potential chances and playing level, whether Gersbach will actually be able to secure regular game time is less certain.

At Breda, Gersbach will face direct competition from former Manchester City youth Greg Leigh, a 24-year-old former England youth-international with huge amounts of EFL experience.

Then there's a slew of mammoth-loanees, with the recently promoted club taking full advantage of the Eredivisie's growing reputation as a loan-hub for large English clubs. In short, like most Dutch clubs, NEC are increasingly a development powerhouse. 

This move can go one of two ways for Gersbach...

Bernie Ibini

For a 26-year-old who it seems just yesterday was gangling awkwardly (yet devastatingly) around Gosford, Ibini's had one hell of a journeyman career.

From the quiet, ketchup-soaked terraces of Central Coast to bustling Shanghai, Sydney to Bruges, snow-blazen Vancouver to the desert-stained Arab Emirates - you get the feeling Ibini's got a decent travel blog in him if the football doesn't work out.

The most recent stamp in his overflowing passport, however, may just ensure that it does. Two-time Asian Champions League winners and reigning Korean champions, Jeonbuk Hyundai, are right up there with Al-Hilal among the creme-de-la-creme of Asian football.

Which is why it's a little surprising more wasn't made of Ibini's transfer. Perhaps it was a barren spell in Canada (he's never been a prolific goalscorer) or the Emirati adventure, but Ibini hasn't had a sniff of a Socceroos shirt since 2014. 

While the Aussie will face stiff competition in Korea, as Duke and so many others can attest - at 187 centimetres and a little more muscle than when he departed our shores, Ibini has something different to offer.

In a 42-man squad with 39 Koreans and two Brazillians, it's likely he'll stand out at one stage or another.

Dylan McGowan

Despite 'the other McGowan' not quite reaching the lofty-World Cup heights of his older brother, Dylan's career has taken a few interesting turns since his pilgrimage from the City of Churches.

After failing to break into Pacos de Ferreira following his tantalising move to the Portugese Primeira Liga, McGowan had a short spell at Korea's Gangwon.

After 15 appearances and a goal to his name, McGowan now journeys to the quaint Danish town of Hjorring - a village about three times as old as British settlement in Oz - where he'll take up residency at Vendsyssel FF.

While the Fodboldklubber are new boys in the Danish Superliga and McGowan will likely enjoy more first-team football than he's had over the past two years, the one-cap Socceroo will join a diverse plethora of footballers seeking to use Denmark as a stepping stone to Europe's big leagues. 

Only time will tell which, if any, end up making it.

Source: Damian Davies' Aussies Abroad Transfer Database